Tie with Permanent Knot Having Attachment Mechanism Formed Therein and Related Methods

ABSTRACT

A tie has a narrow end and a broad end with a length and a midsection portion along the length with a knot formed in the midsection portion of the tie. The knot forms a first length portion extending from the knot to the broad end of the tie and a second length portion extending from the knot to the narrow end of the tie. The midsection portion of the tie forms the knot and is transverse to the first length portion of the tie. An attachment is provided for securing the second length portion of the tie to the knot. The attachment is wrapped in the knot with the transversely extending midsection portion of the tie substantially covering over the attachment. The attachment has a tubular portion dimensioned to receive the second length portion of the tie therethrough. A method of forming and using the same is disclosed.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a necktie with a permanent knot thatenables the user to use the tie a number of times without having tore-do the knot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear view of an exemplary tie with a simple tie knot formedtherein with an attachment mechanism formed in the knot of the tie thatallows the user to fasten the tie without having to tie a knot.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of another embodiment of an exemplary tie with aknot formed therein commonly known as a “full Windsor” with anattachment mechanism formed in the knot of the tie that allows the userto fasten the tie without having to tie a knot

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the attachment device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the attachment device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 through FIG. 9 show an illustrative sequence of steps of forminga knot around the attachment in an exemplary tie.

FIG. 10 shows a guide portion that may be used with an exemplary tie.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A necktie 20 as described herein has a permanent knot 22 formed thereinthat enables the user to use the tie a number of times without having tore-do the knot. With a permanent knot 22 pre-formed in a midsection ofthe tie, the knot-forming steps are eliminated, so all that is necessaryin fastening a tie around a collar is to direct a narrow end of the tiethrough an attachment formed in the knot, and slidingly draw the knot upsnug against the collar by downwardly pulling on the narrow end of thetie.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tie 20 comprises a narrow end 24 and abroad end 26 with a length 28 of the tie extending therebetween.Intermediate the narrow end 24 and the broad end 26 is a midsectionportion 30 of the tie. The midsection portion 30 of the tie has the knot22 formed therein. Preferably, the knot 22 is monolithically formed fromthe length of the tie and does not comprise a separate piece of fabric.The advantage of forming the knot monolithically from the midsectionportion of the tie is that the knot simulates a conventional knot formedin a tie, rather than a separate piece wrapped around the attachment,which would otherwise detract from the aesthetic appearance of the tie.In effect, the knot 22 divides the tie into a first length portion 32which extends from the knot to the broad end 26 of the tie and a secondlength portion 34 which extends from the knot to the narrow end 24 ofthe tie. The knot may comprise several folds as is commonly known in tieknots, for instance, and not in any limiting sense, a simple knot(FIG. 1) or full Windsor (FIG. 2). Generally speaking, in the knot, themidsection portion 30 of the tie extends transversely to and over thefirst length 32 of the tie, that is, the portion of the length of thetie extending to the broad end. The second length 34 of the tie isdirected through an attachment 40 in the knot as described herein inorder to fasten the tie around the user's collar. Although the terms“narrow” and “broad” are used to define the opposite ends of the tie,the tie described herein is not intended to be limited by thesedefinitions, and a tie having a uniform width may employ the principlesdisclosed herein. Thus, the terms narrow and broad are intended toconvey the relative position of the ends of the tie when the tie is wornby the user, that is the broad end is intended to mean the end with theoutwardly facing portion of the tie and the narrow end is intended tomean the end that is behind the outwardly facing portion when the tie isworn by the user.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment 40 is fitted inside the knot 22 so thatthe midsection portion 30 covers over the attachment thereby providingan aesthetic appearance for the tie and obscuring the attachment fromordinary view. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment 40 is wrappedin or included as part of the knot 22 and the midsection portion 30 ofthe tie substantially covers the attachment, even from a rear view.However, the midsection portion of the tie may substantially cover onlythe front, outwardly appearing aspect of the attachment, leaving theremaining surface of the attachment to be obscured from view by theuser's collar and shirt when the tie is worn. The dashed lines in FIGS.1 and 2 are intended to show different folding patterns for the creatingthe knot that wraps around, includes or envelops the attachment. Theknot of the tie may formed around the attachment or the attachment maybe inserted into the knot as may be desired. The attachment may also bemounted to the tie behind the knot so that the knot or midsectionportion of the tie obscures the attachment from ordinary view, withoutor with the collar, when the user wears the tie.

For ease and purposes of illustration and not in any limiting sense, thedescription below will make reference to a generally triangular shapedtie knot with two generally vertical sides and a generally horizontalside. These orientations are intended for ease of illustration and notin any limiting sense with reference to a tie as it is ordinarily wornby the user. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the attachment 40 comprises atubular member 42 with a lug portion 44 extending tangentiallytherefrom. The lug may also project from a radially as opposed totangentially from a side of the tubular member. In the knot 22, themidsection portion 30 of the tie may have one or more loops, dependingupon knot style, around the tubular member 42 that forms one generallyvertical side of the triangular shaped knot, and the lug portion 44 mayhave one or more loops, depending upon knot style, that forms the othergenerally vertical side of the triangular knot. Again, depending uponthe type of knot (full Windsor, four-in-hand, etc.), the number of loopsaround the lug and the tubular member may vary. The orientation of thelug portion and tubular member may also vary and be reversed (i.e., thelug portion and tubular member may have a “left” and “right”orientation, as may be suited for person's preference and dominanthand).

For purposes of illustrating the principles of a method of wrapping theattachment in a knot, and not in any limiting sense, the illustrationsof FIGS. 5-9 depict a full Windor-type knot wrapped around theattachment. In FIG. 5, the attachment 40 is positioned in the midsectionportion 30 of the tie with the lug 44 oriented toward the second lengthportion 34 and the narrow end 24, and the broad end 26 of the tie isdirected over the tubular member 42 to form a loop 50 over the tubularmember outer surface. The broad end 26 of the tie is then directed overa “v” shaped portion 52 formed between the lug portion 44 and tubularmember 22 to extend (downward in FIG. 5) from the knot. Per FIGS. 6 and7, the broad end 26 of the tie is then directed over the tubular member42 thereby again forming a second loop 54 with the midsection portionover the tubular member. The broad end 26 of the tie is then directedover the lug 34 so that the first length portion 32 and the broad end 26extends (downward in FIG. 7) from the “v” shaped portion 52 formedbetween the lug portion and the tubular member. Following the sequenceper FIGS. 8 and 9, the broad end of the tie 26 is then looped over thelug 34 and directed to the front (i.e., outward facing portion) of theknot 22 to eventually become the transverse midsection 56 portion of theknot. The broad end 26 of the tie is then looped around the tubularmember over the “v” shaped portion 52 formed between the lug and tubularmember and behind the traverse midsection portion 56 of the tie, wherethe broad end 26 of the tie and the first length portion 32 depend fromthe knot. The narrow end 24 of the tie may then be directed through theinterior of the tubular member 42. By grasping and pulling the narrowend 24 of the tie and the second portion 34, the user may snug the knot22 and attachment 40 against the user's collar. Other knot tying stylesmay also be employed using the general principles shown in FIGS. 5-9 toenvelop or include the attachment in the knot, and the illustration ofFIGS. 5-9 is not intended to be limiting in any sense.

After forming the knot 22 around the attachment 40, the lug portion 44and/or tubular member 42 may be stitched or adhered, or otherwisemounted, to the tie to permanently affix the attachment member to themidsection of the tie in the knot. Alternatively, the attachment may beheld in place solely by the knot. The attachment and tie may be sold asa kit to be formed by the end user of the tie. The attachment may besold separately and used by the end user in connection with existingties. The tie may be sold to the end user with the attachment formed inthe knot.

In use, the narrow end 24 of the tie and the second portion 34 isdirected through the interior of the tubular member 42 of theattachment. To facilitate directing the second portion through theinterior of the tube, it is preferable to have the entrance of thetubular member positioned at or just below the transverse midsectionportion of the tie. This way the tubular member (and attachment) willremain obscured from ordinary view while allowing the user access forthreading the second portion through the tubular member. Once the narrowend passes through the tubular member, the use may then grasp the narrowend and the knot may be drawn snugly against the user's collar. If theuser decides to remove the tie, the user may simply pull on the secondlength of tie on the other side of the knot thereby loosening orretracting the narrow end from the tubular member of the attachmentmember.

Referring to FIG. 10, the narrow end 24 of the tie may be provided withguide 60 portion to allow the user to first direct the narrow endthrough the tube member. Preferably, the guide portion 60 is removablyattachable to the narrow end 24 of the tie. For instance, the guideportion 60 may be formed with a slot 62 adapted to receive the narrowend 24 of the tie for purposes of threading the narrow end through thetubular member interior. The guide portion 60 is preferably longer thanthe length of the tubular member 42 and smaller in width than an innerdiameter of the tube so that the guide may pass through the tube andenable the user to thread the narrow end through the tubular memberinterior with the guide portion. When that narrow end 24 of the tieclears the tube, the guide portion may be removed as may be desired.Alternatively, the narrow end of the tie may be formed sufficientlyrigid to allow it to be manipulated through the tubular member.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several advantagesare achieved and attained. The embodiments were chosen and described inorder to best explain the principles of the invention and its practicalapplication to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilizethe invention in various embodiments and with various modifications asare suited to the particular use contemplated. As various modificationscould be made in the constructions and methods herein described andillustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shownin the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative ratherthan limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present inventionshould not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the followingclaims appended hereto and their equivalents.

1. A tie having a narrow end and a broad end with a length extendingtherebetween, the tie having a midsection portion along the length witha knot formed in the midsection portion of the tie, the knot in themidsection portion of the tie forming a first length portion extendingfrom the knot to the broad end of the tie and a second length portionextending from the knot to the narrow end of the tie, the midsectionportion of the tie forming the knot being transverse to the first lengthportion of the tie; and an attachment for securing the second lengthportion of the tie to the knot, the attachment being included in theknot with the transversely extending midsection portion of the tiesubstantially covering over the attachment, the attachment having atubular portion dimensioned to receive the second length portion of thetie therethrough thereby allowing the user to grasp the narrow end ofthe tie and snug the knot up against the user's collar when wearing thetie.
 2. The tie of claim 1 further comprising a guide removablyattachable to the narrow end of the tie, the guide being dimensioned topass through the tubular member interior hollow interior therebyenabling the user to thread the tie through the tubular member interior.3. The tie of claim 1, wherein the tubular member has a smooth interior.4. The tie of claim 1, wherein the attachment is permanently affixed tothe knot of the tie.
 5. The tie of claim 4, wherein the lug ispermanently affixed to the knot of the tie.
 6. The tie of claim 1,wherein the knot simulates a conventional knot in a tie.
 7. The tie ofclaim 1, wherein the midsection portion of the tie is wrapped around theattachment.
 8. A method comprising: forming a tie having a narrow endand a broad end with a length extending therebetween, the tie having amidsection portion along the length; forming a knot in the midsectionportion of the tie such that the knot in the midsection portion of thetie forms a first length portion extending from the knot to the broadend of the tie and a second length portion extending from the knot tothe narrow end of the tie, the midsection portion of the tie forming theknot being transverse to the first length portion of the tie; andwrapping an attachment in the knot with the transversely extendingmidsection portion of the tie substantially covering over theattachment, the attachment having a tubular portion dimensioned toreceive the second length portion of the tie therethrough therebyallowing the user to grasp the narrow end of the tie and snug the knotup against the user's collar when wearing the tie.
 9. The method ofclaim 8 further comprising: attaching a guide dimensioned to passthrough the tubular member interior hollow to the narrow end of the tie.10. The method of claim 9, further comprising directing the guidethrough the tubular member interior hollow interior thereby threadingthe tie through the tubular member interior.
 11. The method of claim 8,wherein the attachment is permanently affixed to the knot of the tie.12. The method of claim 8, wherein the lug is permanently affixed to theknot of the tie.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the knot simulate aconventional knot in a tie.
 14. A method comprising: forming a tiehaving a narrow end and a broad end with a length extendingtherebetween, the tie having a midsection portion along the length;forming a knot in the midsection portion of the tie such that the knotin the midsection portion of the tie forms a first length portionextending from the knot to the broad end of the tie and a second lengthportion extending from the knot to the narrow end of the tie, themidsection portion of the tie forming the knot being transverse to thefirst length portion of the tie; and inserting an attachment in the knotwith the transversely extending midsection portion of the tiesubstantially covering over the attachment, the attachment having atubular portion dimensioned to receive the second length portion of thetie therethrough thereby allowing the user to grasp the narrow end ofthe tie and snug the knot up against the user's collar when wearing thetie.
 15. The method of claim 14 further comprising: attaching a guidedimensioned to pass through the tubular member interior hollow to thenarrow end of the tie.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprisingdirecting the guide through the tubular member interior hollow interiorthereby threading the tie through the tubular member interior.
 17. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the attachment is permanently affixed to theknot of the tie.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the lug ispermanently affixed to the knot of the tie.
 19. The method of claim 14,wherein the knot simulate a conventional knot in a tie.